Hexagon has introduced a new technology to reduce quality inspection delays in large-scale manufacturing. The Leica Absolute Tracker ATS800 offers improvements in manufacturing and assembly to measure critical features.
Combining laser tracking with laser radar functionality, the ATS800 enables manufacturers to measure detailed features and meet tight assembly tolerances. The new system accurately measures fine edges and features across large volumes. It also eliminates the need for operators or robots to be in proximity, whether the application is marine, aerospace or automotive.
The ATS800 uses a combination of direct scanning and reflector tracking capabilities, along with Hexagon’s patented PowerLock technology to lock on to a fixed reflector and track its movements in real time. The ability to measure target reflectors also simplifies robotic automation processes, providing precise position referencing.
The Leica Absolute Tracker ATS800 can be used to inspect an aircraft fuselage without bringing target reflectors to the part, reducing total inspection time from hours to minutes. It can also provide metrology-grade guidance accuracy to help experts align and troubleshoot issues in real time without stopping to recalibrate.  For automotive applications, the ATS800 can accurately measure holes, fastenings and edges, automatically inspecting critical features within seconds. Furthermore, the new device can measure inaccessible features such as the holes that make up the bolt pattern for the alignment and fastening of huge wind turbine sections.
Pirmin Bitzi, general manager for portable measuring devices at Hexagon, said, “Industries like aerospace and shipbuilding are making large structures where scale and detail are equally important. We’re excited to offer manufacturers a system that delivers leading-edge capabilities to measure intricate features with less disruption at the heart of production and throughout the critical stages of assembly.”
The ATS800 is IP54 rated, can be operated wirelessly and is highly portable because it integrates all systems and electronics into a single unit with a small control box that can be mounted to robotic control systems. The new device will be available in 2025 and will join Hexagon’s line-up that includes the ATS600.